With the holiday season in full swing, I’m in full entertainment mode. From sipping on mulled wine to indulging in desserts and coffee, Christmas gatherings can put a stain on my teeth.

Did you know that teeth whitening is the number one cosmetic procedure, and that most people want to improve their smile with whiter teeth? I can’t disagree! A clean, white smile is an excellent confidence booster… and it can be contagious. Even when I’m in court, I always try to smile when I greet a Judge or Master, because studies have shown that if you’re smiling at someone, they are more likely to smile back and if they don’t, they are consciously trying not to! However, in order to boost that confidence in your smile, it’s a good idea to upgrade your oral care routine.

I’m a huge fan of my Oral-B electric toothbrush (and convinced my entire family to switch), but I was so excited to check out the new Oral-B Genius 8000 Toothbrush, coupled with Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint Toothpaste and Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light.

Oral-B Genius Toothbrush Review

The Oral-B Genius Toothbrush is a smart toothbrush that pairs with your cell phone via Bluetooth. The package comes complete with a very secure holder for your mirror.

After you download the Oral-B app, it brings you through a set-up screen where you can set up your profile and assign a colour. As you brush, the SmartRing on the toothbrush lights up with your selected colour! This gets assigned to the app too.

Using the app was simple and straightforward. It connected to my Oral-B Genius 8000 toothbrush via Bluetooth just by turning on the brush. The app has a timer for two minutes, and counts you down (30 seconds) for each section. Making it easy and fun to brush is a huge plus, as a recent study from Crest and Oral-B found while 79 per cent of Canadians say oral health is important to them, 34 per cent of us still see it as a chore. The Oral-B Genius 8000 toothbrush also has Position Detection technology that includes sensors and your phone’s camera to detect which areas you need to clean. This is a great way to improve your brushing technique, and ensure that no spots are left!

The electric toothbrush itself is a MAJOR upgrade to my previous Oral-B model. The brush oscillates and rotates, and you can select different modes for a deeper clean. I found my teeth were a lot cleaner, and more shiny and white. I was even able to get into the tough areas near my permanent retainer on my lower front teeth! This is a problem spot for me, and I’m looking forward to improving my teeth and gum health here.

Another great feature is that the brush will go red, and the app will warn you if you are applying too much pressure. I loved this, because I often end up with bleeding gums. It’s nice to have the reminder. I think all of these features would be a great option for kids as well to learn how to brush their teeth properly.

With the app, you can even select a dental care journey! I’ve selected Whitening, but there’s also Ortho and Gum options as well. I know it sounds funny, but I find the app really motivating! It reminds me to floss (guilty!), rinse and keeps track of my cleaning habits. While you use the app, there are also news headlines, weather and you can even import your calendar! The timer countdown really helps (the brush will also pulse to switch sections), but the visual cues on the app and Position Detection ensures I do a proper job each time.

So far the battery life has been great, and you can charge it with the USB charging case or with the traditional plug-in stand. I love how the case is perfect for travel.

Admittedly, my favourite part about this Oral-B Genius 8000 toothbrush is the gorgeous rose gold colour! It’s so elegant and pretty in my bathroom. The Oral-B Genius toothbrush is currently retailing for $269.99 in Canada.

Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint Toothpaste

When I brush my teeth, I like to make sure I use a toothpaste that protects against acid erosion. I drink lots of tea, kombucha and juices, so I’m always worried about sensitivity. Other enamel strengthening toothpastes can leave your mouth feeling chalky or not as clean, but this one is very refreshing! It’s definitely a core part of my bedtime routine now.

Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light Review

I’ve been using Crest Whitestrips once a year for as long as I can remember! I love that I can get professional whitening results at home. As an articling student, I’m definitely budget-conscious! This time around, I tested out Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light.

The whitening strips are easy to use. You put the strips onto your upper and lower front teeth, wait an hour and then use the light on your upper and lowers for 5 minutes. Afterwards, remove the strips and you’re ready to go!

The light itself is has 8 blue LED lights which are the same ones as dentists use. The package comes with 20 strips for 10 treatments in total. The results last 36 months and I saw brighter, whiter teeth after the first use!

I hope you enjoyed my Oral-B Genius 8000 toothbrush review! I’m excited to work on my smile in time for family pictures and an upcoming vacation to California. Let me know in the comments below how you want to improve your smile this Holiday season.